Monday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 7/14/2014

The cruise industry: Is Florida losing its home port advantage?

Florida ports are at risk of losing business as operators look to destinations around the world such as Asia, Europe and Brazil to grow their passenger base. The shift has been years in the making as cruise lines have worked to spread a vacation model born in South Florida to new global markets. [Source: Miami Herald]

Halfway to the deadline for spending federal Hardest Hit foreclosure-relief funds, Florida has distributed less than a third of its $1 billion share and lags most other states in getting the money into homeowners' hands. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Some South Florida docs decline to accept Obamacare

Nearly one million Floridians are enrolled in a private health plan through the ACA exchange but some are finding that some physicians refuse to honor their coverage — even when the doctors are included in the plan’s provider network. [Source: Miami Herald]

Start-Ups Make Political Organizing Mobile-Ready

With Congress nearly frozen in place and big donors taking on growing influence, start-ups are moving into the political breach. Companies like Phone2Action, which recently helped push through legislation in Florida, are assuming functions once reserved for political parties and special interest groups. [Source: New York Times]

Retiring abroad is growing in popularity

Thousands of recent retirees who have discovered that the American dollar can buy more overseas. Lured by affordable housing, inexpensive healthcare and vibrant ex-pat communities, more Americans are heading south of the border to spend their golden years. Some are calling Latin America the new Sun Belt. [Source: Miami Herald]

› Uber brings hope to Orlando taxi drivers, fear to their bosses[Orlando Sentinel] Bulldozers and backhoes working on Mears Transportation's new $20 million headquarters are grinding to a halt as nervous executives put the project on indefinite hold. The reason: Uber, a smartphone app that threatens to cut deep into taxi-industry profits.

› All Aboard Florida station expected to spark development[South Florida Sun-Sentinel] With a $30 million station planned for Florida's high-speed passenger train project and a larger transit hub emerging, the area north of Broward Boulevard could ultimately become home to new high-rises, shops, restaurants and more, according to developers and community groups.

› Defense contractor coming to Gainesville[Gainesville Sun] Two companies that do federal contracting work have opened offices in Gainesville HUBZones within the last year to gain an advantage in vying for more contracts.